Cable trough cover

ABSTRACT

A cable trough cover assembly and method of assembly including a cover plate and a hinge piece. The cover plate includes a pivot member along at least one edge, and the hinge piece defines a pocket for releasably receiving the pivot member. The pocket and pivot member arrangement allow the cover plate to be rotated relative to a cable trough to which the hinge pieces may be mounted.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/910,418, filed Jul. 20, 2001, which application is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention pertains to systems for the management and routingof optical fiber cables and other cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the telecommunications industry, the use of optical fibers forsignal transmission is accelerating. With the increased utilization ofoptical fiber systems, optical fiber cable management requires industryattention. Other telecommunications cables, including copper-basedcables benefit from increased attention on cable management.

[0004] One area where cable management is necessary is the routing ofcables from one piece of equipment to another. For example, in atelecommunications facility, optical fiber cables may be routed betweenfiber distribution equipment and optical line terminating equipment. Inbuildings and other structures which carry such equipment, the cablerouting can take place in concealed ceiling areas or in any other mannerto route cables from one location to another.

[0005] When routing cables, it is desirable that any routing system willbe readily modifiable and adaptable to changes in equipment needs.Accordingly a routing system is not practical which would require a highcapital outlay and which could not be readily adapted to changes in acustomer's needs. Namely, if routing paths, once established, areforever fixed, the system cannot adapt. Also, and perhaps mostimportant, any routing system must protect cables from damage. In theuse of optical fibers, it is recognized that the fibers should not bendbeyond a minimum radius of curvature. For example, it is commonlyrecognized that optical fibers should not be bent in a radius of lessthan 1.5 inches.

[0006] Current cable management systems typically comprise cable troughshaving a base and sidewalls. It is often advantageous to include a coverover the trough to prevent dust and other unwanted objects from fallinginto and damaging the cables in the trough. There is a need, however,for improved cable trough covers which allow easy access to the cablesin the trough yet still protect the cables from damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to a cover and hingeassembly including a cover plate and a hinge member. The cover plateincludes a pivot member along at least one edge. The hinge memberdefines a pocket for receiving the pivot member of the cover plate sothat the pivot member may be rotated within the pocket, allowing thecover plate to be rotated relative to the hinge member. The pocket issized to allow the hinge member to be snap-fit into and out of the hingemember.

[0008] A trough cover of the preferred embodiment is versatile so thatthe same cover may be pivoted in either direction. A connecting piecefunctions as a hinge or latch as the cover is pivoted.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cover forcovering a cable trough. The cover includes at least one parallel pivotpost along each opposite edge of the cover. The cover defines at leastone aperture along each pivot post.

[0010] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a hingepiece for hingedly mounting a cover plate with a pivot member to a cabletrough. The hinge piece includes two arms coupled by a middle member toform a U-shaped recess. The hinge piece defines a detent pocket forreleasably receiving the pivot member.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cable troughand cover assembly including a cable trough, a cover plate, and a hingepedestal. The cover plate includes a pivot member along one edge. Thehinge pedestal includes a base portion secured to a base of the cabletrough and an extending body which defines a pocket for releasablyreceiving the pivot member of the cover plate and allowing the coverplate to be rotated relative to the trough.

[0012] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a cabletrough assembly including a cable trough, two cover plates, and twohinge pieces. The cover plates include pivot members along at least oneedge. The hinge pieces are positioned on sidewalls of the trough. Thehinge pieces each define pockets which releasably receive the pivotmembers of the cover plates so that the cover plates may be rotatedrelative to the trough.

[0013] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a hingepedestal for mounting a cover plate with a pivot member to a cabletrough. The hinge pedestal includes a base which supports an upstandingwall. The upstanding wall defines at least one pocket sized to receivethe pivot member of the cover plate so that the pivot member of thecover plate is releasably received in the pocket and so that the coverplate may be rotated relative to the upstanding wall by rotation of thepivot member within the pocket.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method ofcovering a cable trough having two sidewalls. The method includes thesteps of providing a hinge piece with a detent pocket and defining aU-shaped recess, positioning the hinge piece on the sidewall so that thesidewall is received in the U-shaped recess, providing a cover platehaving a pivot member along at least one edge, and snapping the pivotmember of the cover plate into the detent pocket of the hinge piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cabletrough and cover assembly according to the principles of the presentinvention with cover plate and hinge pieces.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a top view of the cover plate shown in FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 3 is an end view of the cover plate of FIG. 2.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge piece of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 5 is an end view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a first side view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a second side view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

[0023]FIG. 9 is a top view of the hinge piece of FIG. 4.

[0024]FIG. 10 is an end view of a second embodiment of a cable troughand cover assembly according to the present invention with hinge pieceson both sidewalls of the trough, and fasteners.

[0025]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cabletrough and cover assembly according to the principles of the presentinvention with two cover plates, hinge pieces, and an insert piece.

[0026]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cabletrough and cover assembly according to the principles of the presentinvention with two cover plates positioned in a hinged insert piece.

[0027]FIG. 13 is an end view of the insert piece of FIG. 12.

[0028]FIG. 14 is a side view of the insert piece of FIG. 12.

[0029]FIG. 15 is a top view of the insert piece of FIG. 12.

[0030]FIG. 16 is an end view of the cable trough assembly of FIG. 11with fasteners added to secure the hinge pieces to the sidewalls of thecable trough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1, cable trough assembly 100 is shown whichincludes a cable trough 110 having a base 112 and two sidewalls 114 and116. The assembly further includes a cover plate 118 and hinge pieces120. Hinge pieces 120 straddle sidewall 114 and receive cover plate 118so that a hinged joint is formed between the cover plate 118 and thehinge pieces 120.

[0032] The assembly 100 of the present invention allows the cover plate118 to be snap-fit into the hinge pieces 120 and adjustably positionedin open and closed positions relative to the cable trough 110. Forinstance, the cover plate may be laid in a closed position over thecable trough to protect cables inside the trough. The cover plate 118may then be conveniently pivoted by means of the hinge joint into anopen position to allow access to the trough interior. Because the coverplates are snap-fit into the hinge pieces, the cover plate may be easilyremoved from or added to the assembly without the need for timeconsuming fasteners such as screws.

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, cover plate 118 includes agenerally planar member 122 having pivot members 124 disposed alongopposite edges of the planar member 122. The pivot members 124 areparallel, rounded posts. The planar member 122 of the cover plate 118defines a plurality of slots 126 along each pivot member 124. Except forthe slots 126, cover plate 118 has a uniform cross section which permitsa manufacturer to make the cover plates 118 by extrusion. Slots 126 maybe punched out after the cover plates 118 have been extruded.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 4-9, a hinge piece 120 according to thepresent invention is shown. Hinge piece 120 includes two opposed arms132 and 134 joined by a middle portion 136 to form a U-shaped recess138. The U-shaped recess 138 is sized to receive one of the sidewalls114 or 116 of cable trough 110. Hinge piece 120 also includes opposedextension members 140 and 142 which define a detent pocket 144. Thepocket 144 is shaped as a rounded channel. Bosses 146 protrude from theextension members 140 and 142 toward an interior of the pocket 144.Pocket 144 is sized to receive the pivot members 124 of the cover plate118. The pivot members 124 can be snap-fit into pocket 144, and bosses146 act as a detent to retain the pivot member 124 in pocket 144 and toallow the pivot member to be snapped out of the pocket 144. When coverplate 118 is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 1, extension member140 is received by slot 126 in cover plate 118.

[0035] Extension member 142 also includes a push tab 148. By pushing thepush tab 148, extension member 142 may be flexed away from extensionmember 140 which assists in removing the pivot member 124 from pocket144. In this way the cover plate 118 may be easily snapped out of thehinge piece 120. The cover plate 118, therefore, may be releasablypositioned in hinge piece 120. This snap-fit option allows for improvedflexibility and efficiency over prior hinge systems requiring screws orfasteners. Tab 148 also functions as a stop to limit the rotation of thecover plate 118.

[0036] An inside surface of arm 134 of hinge piece 120 may also includea retaining tab 150 with a ramped surface 151. When the hinge piece 120is snap-fit to a cable trough such as cable trough 110 shown in FIG. 1,retaining tab 150 opposes an edge 153 of flange 154 on sidewall 114 tohold the hinge piece 120 on the sidewall 114.

[0037] In the preferred embodiment, arm 134 of hinge piece 120 maydefine a fastener window 155 for receiving a fastener. As shown in FIG.10, fastener 158 may be used to more securely position the hinge piece120 on the cable trough 110. Fastener 158 includes a tightening knob 160on a threaded bolt 162 secured to an opposing plate 164. The knob 160and opposing plate 164 grip flange 154 and hinge piece 120 together.Alternative fasteners could be used such as screws or bolts. Thefasteners keep hinge pieces 120 from sliding longitudinally along cabletrough 110.

[0038]FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment cable trough assembly 200where a hinge piece 120 is placed on both sidewalls 114 and 116. In thisarrangement, cover plate 118 may be opened and pivoted in eitherdirection allowing access to the cable trough from either side. Anadvantage to this design is that the cable technician can access thecable trough interior by pivoting the cover away from the technician, nomatter which side of the trough the technician is standing.

[0039]FIGS. 11, 12 and 16 show alternative embodiments of the presentinvention which might be advantageously employed in relatively widecable troughs such as 12″ or 18″ wide troughs. FIG. 11 shows a cabletrough assembly 300 including a cable trough 310 with a base 311 andsidewalls 312 and 314. Two cover plates 118 and 118′. Each cover plate118 and 118′ is disposed in two hinge pieces 120 which couple the coverplates to the sidewalls of the trough. A hinge pedestal 320 is placed onbase 311 of trough 310 between sidewalls 312 and 314 to support freeends of the cover plates 118 and 118′. FIG. 16 shows the assembly 300 ofFIG. 11 with fasteners 158 added to help secure the hinge pieces 120 tothe cable trough 310.

[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, hinge pedestal 320 includes a base322 and an upstanding wall or body 324 extending from the base 322. Atits top end the upstanding wall 324 defines two detent pockets 326 and328 for receiving pivot members 124 of cover plates 118 and 118′. Thepedestal 320 may be secured to any desired flat surface. Pedestal mayinclude an adhesive 330 on the planar bottom surface 332 of the base322. The adhesive 330 might be peel and stick adhesive pads, forinstance. Alternatively, the base 322 may define fastener holes so thatfasteners such as screws could be received through the fastener holes tosecure the pedestal to the cable trough.

[0041] As shown in the assembly 400 of FIG. 12, cover plates 118 and118′ may be received by the pockets 326 and 328 of pedestal 320 so thatthe cover plates 118 and 118′ may be pivoted toward the middle of trough310.

[0042] A significant advantage of the cover plates 118, hinge pieces 120and hinge pedestals 320 of present invention, is that they can beinserted easily into existing cable management systems, effectivelyretrofitting the existing system. The snap-fit feature of the pivotmembers and pockets of the cover plates 118 and hinge pieces 120 andhinge pedestals 320 allow covers to be added, opened, closed, andremoved without resorting to time intensive fasteners.

[0043] With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understoodthat changes may be made in detail without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. It is intended that the specification anddepicted aspects of the invention may be considered exemplary, only,with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by thebroad meaning of the following claims.

1-10. (Cancelled)
 11. A method of covering a cable trough, the methodcomprising the steps of: a) providing a cover plate having a pivotmember, and providing a hinge member having a recess shaped forreceiving a sidewall of the cable trough; b) attaching the hinge memberto the sidewall of the cable trough; c) positioning the pivot member ofthe cover plate within a pocket of the hinge member; d) rotating thepivot member within the pocket of the hinge member to cover or uncoverthe cable trough.
 12. The method of claim 11, further includingpositioning a portion of the hinge member within a slot formed throughthe cover plate.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the pivot member isa first pivot member and the hinge member is a first hinge member, andwherein the cover plate includes a second pivot member positionablewithin a pocket of a second hinge member, the method further includingrotating the second pivot member within the pocket of the second hingemember to cover or uncover the cable trough, the first and second hingemembers being located on opposite sidewalls of the cable trough.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further including selectively snapping the firstpivot member in and out of the pocket of the first hinge member to coverand uncover the cable trough.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein thefirst hinge member includes first and second arms that define thepocket, the method further including pushing a push tab located on oneof the arms to flex that arm away from the other of the arms andreleasing the first pivot member of the cover plate from the pocket ofthe first hinge member.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the pivotmember is a first pivot member and the hinge member is a first hingemember, and wherein the cover plate includes a second pivot memberpositionable within a pocket of a second hinge member, the methodfurther including rotating the first pivot member about a first axis ofrotation, and rotating the second pivot member about a second, differentaxis of rotation.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching thehinge member to the sidewall of the cable trough includes positioning afastener through a hole formed in the hinge member and fastening thehinge member to the sidewall of the cable trough.
 18. The method ofclaim 11, wherein attaching the hinge member to the sidewall of thecable trough includes snap-fitting the hinge member to the sidewall ofthe cable trough.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein positioning thepivot member of the cover plate within the pocket of the hinge memberincludes snapping the pivot member within the pocket of the hingemember.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the hinge member includes apedestal, the method further including positioning the hinge member at acentral region within the cable trough.
 21. The method of claim 20,further including adhesively secure a bottom surface of the pedestal tothe cable trough at the central region.
 22. A method of covering atrough member having two sidewalls, the method comprising: snapping ahinge clip onto a first sidewall of the trough member, the hinge clipdefining a socket; positioning a cover including a first pivot memberover an open portion defined by the trough member; and snapping thefirst pivot member of the cover into the socket of the hinge clip toallow the cover to pivot about the first pivot member between open andclosed positions.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:snapping a second hinge clip onto a second sidewall of the troughmember, the second hinge clip defining a socket; and moving a secondpivot member of the cover into the socket of the second hinge clip toplace the cover in the closed position.
 24. The method of claim 22,wherein the cover is a first cover portion, and the method furthercomprises: snapping a second hinge clip onto a second sidewall of thetrough member; positioning a second cover portion including a secondpivot member over the open portion of the trough member; and snappingthe second pivot member of the second cover portion into a socket of thesecond hinge clip to allow the second cover portion to pivot about thesecond pivot member of the second cover portion between open and closedpositions.
 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising providingmultiple hinge clips at intervals along the first sidewall of the troughmember.
 26. A cover and hinge assembly for covering a trough memberhaving a base and two sidewalls, the assembly comprising: a hinge clipconfigured to be detachably coupled to a first sidewall of a troughmember, the hinge clip defining a receiving portion; and a coverincluding a main body having first and second ends, the cover includinga pivot member at the first end; wherein the pivot member is received inthe receiving portion of the hinge clip to allow the cover to be pivotedabout the pivot member from an open position to a closed position.